Lied To Get Credentialed at Logan Airport

An East Boston man was sentenced yesterday in federal court for making false statements to obtain employment at Logan International Airport.

United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan announced that Martin Gonzalez, a citizen of Mexico, age 36, , was sentenced by US District Judge Rya W. Zobel to time served -- 5 days' imprisonment. Gonzalez pleaded guilty on February 10, 2004, to making false statements. As a result of the conviction, Gonzalez may be subject to deportation to his native Mexico.
 
At the earlier plea hearing, the prosecutor told the Court that had the case proceeded to trial the Government's evidence would have proven that on or about October 12, 2000, Gonzalez obtained employment with Precision Cleaning Company, Inc. Precision Cleaning Company provides a variety of services within the Secure Identification Display Area ("SIDA") at Logan International Airport. The SIDA area at Logan Airport includes all high security property and areas of the airport including, but not limited to portions of the terminals and baggage areas, as well as cargo facilities, areas beyond pre- departure passenger security screening checkpoints, a/k/a "sterile areas," jet ways, and the Airport Operations Area ("AOA"), i.e. the tarmac, runways, and airfield. An individual having AOA privileges is said to have "ramp access" to the airfield areas where aircraft are stored and maintained.

As a condition of employment with Precision Cleaning Company, Federal Aviation Administration ("FAA") regulations require each employee working in the SIDA at Logan Airport, possess a SIDA access badge which are issued and controlled by the Massachusetts Port Authority ("MassPort"). To obtain a SIDA access badge an employee must truthfully complete, sign and submit an "Application for Unescorted Access Privileges at Logan International Airport", which is also known as a Form UA1, to MassPort. FAA regulations prohibit any person from making fraudulent or intentionally false statements in any application for an access or identification badge.

On or about October 12, 2000, Gonzalez completed and submitted a signed Form UA1 to MassPort, in order to obtain a SIDA access badge to work at Logan Airport. Specifically, Gonzalez provided personal identifying information, which included a false social security card and a fake alien registration card, (also known as a "green card"), in the name of Martin Gonzalez - Arciniega. Gonzalez additionally falsely indicated on the Form UA1 that he was either a United States citizen, or an alien with employment authorization or an alien registration card.

Based on the false information provided by Gonzalez in his Form UA1, MassPort issued him a Logan Airport SIDA access badge as an employee of Precision Cleaning Company on or about October 25, 2000. The SIDA badge allowed Gonzalez access to high security areas such as the airport terminals, sterile areas, as well as the Airport Operations Area.

FMI: www.tsa.gov